While our Cuban influence in Miami is world-famous, our presence in Tampa has stayed relatively under-the-radar.
Its downtown was mainly a commercial hub; it wasnt a place to live.
James Jackman
In the past several years, thats changed.
From left: Dishes from the Mexican restaurant Jotoro; a mai tai at Wild Child, in St. Petersburg.James Jackman
The striking glass-and-steel high-rise is part of a 56-acre planned neighborhood called Water Street Tampa.
To a casual observer, Tampas shiny new image may seem to have appeared out of nowhere.
Partnering with a private investment firm, Vinik continued to buy more waterfront property.
The lobby of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street.James Jackman
His vision, widely publicized, was to create a highly livable city for the future.
The Riverwalk connects the two ends of downtown Tampa, withSparkman Wharfat one end andArmature Worksat the other.
Also developed by Viniks investment group, both are open-air complexes with food and drink as their focus.
Joggers on Tampa’s Riverwalk.James Jackman
Chef Joe Isidoris food feels like a party, a little bit of Tex-Mex in Tampa.
Exploring the city shouldnt just be all about the new, though.
I ordered the macadamia ice cream and a Berns Cappuccino, which is brewed from coffee marinated in liqueur.
From left: Paella española served at Columbia Restaurant, in Ybor City; cigars from J.C. Newman Cigar Co., also in Ybor City.James Jackman
To fully understand the fabric of Tampa, its essential to spend some time here.
With this newly arrived industry came immigrants from Cuba, Spain, and Italy looking for work.
To see some of this history today, head toJ.C.
From left: A poolside Painkiller cocktail at Hotel Haya; a sitting area in the hotel’s lobby.James Jackman
Newman Cigar Co., the countrys oldest family-owned cigar maker still in operation.
Seventh Avenue is Ybor Citys main drag.
Its owned by the Gonzmart family, who have initiate the place since it opened in 1905.
If Vinik is the new name heard around town, Gonzmart was the original.
Off Seventh Avenue, there are yet more treasures to be found.
Its also a piece of Cuba in Tampa literally.
Whenever I step on Cuban soil while remaining in my home state, my heart flutters.
Opened in 1982, the institution debuted a new building in 2011 designed by architect Yann Weymouth.
With more than 2,000 of Salvador Dalis works, its the largest collection outside his native Spain.
Ill order a Spritz or Paloma cocktail and mentally unpack all of the mind-bending pieces Ive just seen.
And it occurred to me then that Tampa is an emblem of modern America.
This is where fresh roads are being paved through our ever-evolving national identity.
And yet its still a place where a Florida girl like me can always feel at home.
